Carlos Alcaraz has once again thwarted Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon, preventing the Serbian from making history with an emphatic straight-sets victory.
Retaining his SW19 crown, the Spaniard was sublime, making his opponent look exactly like a 37-year-old who had just recently endured knee surgery should play. That is a testament to Djokovic’s greatness, rather than a slight on his current fitness levels.
He used his boundless energy to get off to a supremely fast start, outlasting the Serbian in a mammoth first game before claiming the break.
To further compound the misery, his hold of serve in the following game was so simple, and sort of acted like a preview for what was to come.
It left everyone in centre court stunned, but particularly the two pundits on commentary, who voted their acute confusion instantly.
Nick Kyrgios couldn’t believe how Novak Djokovic started the Wimbledon final
Speaking live on BBC Sport, it was Nick Kyrgios and Tim Henman who had the pleasure of watching this clash from the commentary booth.
The former has become a good friend of Novak Djokovic’s in recent years, ironically ever since they clashed at this very venue two years ago.
So, it must have pained him to be so close to the action, and to have to watch such a poor start from the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
The Australian first noted: ‘We have seen Novak go to the serve and volley quite a bit already, which is very surprising.’
Henman replied: ‘He has come to the net seven times already and we are only in the third game.’
Carlos Alcaraz is already a tennis Hall of Famer
Having prevented Djokovic from moving ahead of all other players, both male and female, with the most Grand Slam titles of all time, whilst also keeping Roger Federer’s record of eight Wimbledon titles safe for now, Alcaraz made a little history of his own.
After all, not only has he won his fourth Grand Slam title, retaining his crown, but he also maintained his 100% win rate in Grand Slam finals.
And in doing so, he has surpassed superstars like Andy Murray, Arthur Ashe and Stan Wawrinka for majors won too.
Alcaraz has every trick in the book, and is deservedly lapping up the praise for his stunning athleticism and shot-making.
His forehand is near-faultless, whilst his backhand is rock solid. Having changed his service motion just this year, improvements are brewing, and his penchant for the impossible, whether it be drop shots or striking from the harshest of angles, is unparalleled in the modern game.
Andy Roddick even praised Alcaraz pre-match for one change he made, predicting it might win him the Wimbledon title.
Djokovic may have been poor today, but Alcaraz was so, so good.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
